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We treat harmful emissions into the atmosphere as something everyday and tend to underestimate the problem. But in fact, air pollution is literally killing people of all ages, especially children.
Scale of the disaster
Air pollution is mainly due to harmful emissions from fuel combustion. Another reason is the unprecedented scale of forest fires, which are increasingly occurring in different parts of the world. This affects the daily lives of all people: 9 out of 10 inhabitants of the Earth do not breathe clean air. As a result, 7 million people die each year. For comparison, the coronavirus pandemic has been going on for almost two years, and over the entire period, about 19 million people have died from COVID-5. In our country, air pollution kills about 120 people every year. On the UN portal, you can check the level of cleanliness of the atmosphere in your city.
Why do people die
Air pollution causes various diseases. A third of deaths from stroke, lung cancer and heart disease are attributed to environmental problems. According to a University of Chicago study published in September 2021, people in India lose six years of their lives every year due to polluted air. In some regions, this value reaches nine years.
Did nature clean up for the pandemic?
In the first wave of the pandemic, phrases like “nature has become so pure that…” were popular. Scientists point out that air quality has indeed improved due to the decrease in the work of factories and the reduction in car movements. But this was a temporary effect, which quickly faded away. For example, global COXNUMX emissions2 from the power industry has already exceeded the pre-pandemic.
What can each of us do
To deal with the problem of air pollution, governments and large companies must join forces and act together. But besides this, each of us can make the air a little cleaner. The less gasoline we burn, the better. If possible, the best way to get around the city is on foot, by bike or by public transport. It is worth saving electricity and buying food that is produced near where you live – this reduces emissions from transportation around the country. You can reduce your risk of illness due to air pollution by following these tips:
- do not walk along busy city streets during rush hour;
- while walking, try not to approach the highway and freeways;
- do not drive during rush hour;
- do not burn waste.
Save the Children
Dirty air is especially dangerous for children. Their lungs are just developing, and the body is not yet able to cope with chemicals and harmful elements. In addition, children inhale more air relative to their body weight compared to adults. More than half a million children die each year due to air pollution. To protect them, the following measures should be taken:
- do not smoke indoors, and even more so with children;
- use safe energy sources for cooking, heating and light;
- always carefully ventilate the kitchen;
- do not use kerosene and kerosene lamps;
- do not use air fresheners and scented candles.